Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding me time. I rise in support of this measure and congratulate the Members who are involved in it. Mr. Chairman, as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3231, I would like to congratulate Mr. Sensenbrenner and Mr. Gekas for brining this vital matter to the floor and setting us on a course to finally provide a meaningful reform of our nation's immigration system. For too long, Mr. Chairman, we have watched as Immigration and Naturalization Service officials have vowed their commitment to reform in testimony, but provided little evidence that they are either willing or capable to see this through in practice. Congress demanded in 1986 that illegal immigration be stopped, and yet we now have as many as 8 million people living in our country who entered without following our immigration laws, and who now have no legal status. At the same time, the INS has chronically run backlogs of a year or more in processing the requests of legal immigrants to become citizens or simply renew their permanent resident documents. In California, we have dealt with the dysfunction of this agency for decades. Most California congressional offices must devote a full-time staff member just to deal with immigration issues--and much of their time is spent fighting with the INS bureaucracy over a blunder made by INS officials themselves. Thousands of INS employees are hard working and dedicated to service, but the system in which they operate is designed for failure. Our experience has convinced most California members that the top priority of this agency is not providing service to legal immigrants or deporting illegals. The top priority is self- protection of those within the INS, which has led to gross inefficiency, a nearly total lack of accountability, and promotion of supervisors who are not respected by employees and who often display a disdain for those who they are charged to serve. We joined the nation in anger and disgust when all of these traits were revealed to the public with the issuance of visas to the September 11 terrorists six months after they had taken thousands of American lives. But we were not terribly surprised, I am sorry to say. It was not the first time we had seen this agency fail in its responsibility, but I sincerely hope it will prove to be the weight that tips the scales in favor of reform. This legislation places a spotlight of accountability on both the enforcement and immigration services branches of the new agency. It should open the doors to those within the agency who display the leadership qualities to provide true reform, and weed out those who will not or cannot move the agency forward. Its passage will show the INS--and the nation--that Congress will insist on that reform. The Congress--and the nation--will no longer be satisfied with half- measures and band-aid fixes.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, March 25, 2002, marks 181 years since Greece declared its independence from the occupying Ottoman Empire. On March 25, 1821, the Greeks rose against the tyranny with an overwhelming conviction to defeat an overpowering foe. After 400 years of lingering repression and oppression, the brave elected to take a stand and fight for valued liberty and independence. Ultimately, freedom prevailed. Since September 11, Greece has joined our effort to fight terrorism and bring those responsible for that heinous act to justice. We share the common goal of deterring future terrorist acts. Although it is and will be a difficult fight, unity and alliance with Greece is one of the keys to our ultimate victory. The war of independence that Greece fought, and ultimately won, reminds us today that independence and liberty do not come without cost. We look to these shared values to help us endure these trying times. Madam Speaker, we as Americans are inspired by the Greek people and recognize the struggles they have overcome to attain independence. I congratulate them on 181 years of freedom.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Robert Blackey, a professor of history at California State University at San Bernardino, located at the western edge of the 40th District of California. Professor Blackey is the 2001 honoree of the Eugene Asher Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest award given by both the American Historical Association and the Society for History Education in recognition of outstanding teaching and advocacy for history teaching. Long an advocate of good teaching, Professor Blackey's instructional techniques and knowledge of his subject matter have, over the course of his thirty plus years of teaching, made history come alive for his students. Blackey understands the adage ``History is to society what memory is to the individual'' and that humanizing the study of the past makes it relevant to the young minds of the present. In making the award, the historical association quoted a former student's nomination, saying not only is Professor Blackey ``a dynamic speaker and discussion leader, but he enriches his lectures with slides, photographs, art, music, and observations from his travels around the world. He brings the people of history to life through visual and verbal illustrations that humanize them; he also helps students to think historically and to appreciate the larger themes that he weaves throughout his classes.'' Through his work as editor of the teaching column in Perspectives, vice president of the AHA Teaching Division, chief reader for Advanced Placement European History, perennial workshop leader, and frequent guest speaker in secondary school classrooms, Professor Blackey has made an outstanding contribution to history teaching, the association said. Blackey's efforts at serving others don't stop at the university's edge. He has served as Chair of the school's history department as well as social science coordinator. Additionally, his work includes having served as vice president of the American Historical Association and is an elected member of The College Board's National Academic Council. Blackey also works with Project Upbeat, an innovative program that inspires middle school students to attend and succeed in college. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Professor Blackey's dedication to his profession and his continuing efforts to help students appreciate and understand history. I ask you and my colleagues to join his fellow professors, his friends, and his family in congratulating him for his record of success.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for cooperating with me in pressing calendar circumstances. I have come to the floor because I will be inserting in the Record some detailed information about a young man from my hometown, San Bernardino, California, by the name of Derek Parra who won, among other things, a gold and a silver medal at the Winter Olympic Games, a fabulous young person who is an inspiration to our entire community. Not only has he made a difference to our community, he is impacting young people across the country. It is my pleasure to mention, among other things, as I have done some homework on him, he is an employee of Home Depot. I have learned that Home Depot is doing a fantastic job of helping the Olympics by having employees who work for them have a good deal of flexibility in terms of their schedule and the way their jobs are funded, et cetera. They have, in a very substantial way, demonstrated what the private sector can do to improve our ability to effectively impact a wonderful event such as the Winter Olympic games. So my hat is off to Home Depot, and I hope all my colleagues will recognize these good works and encourage them across the country. Mr. Speaker, the people of my hometown, San Bernardino, were specially thrilled by the Olympic heroism of Derek Parra, who became the first Mexican-American to win a medal at the Winter games when he took both a gold and silver medal in speed-skating. His story is one of making sacrifice and working tirelessly to achieve his life's dream of winning at the Olympics. Derek Parra twice left family and home behind to pursue his dream-- once moving to Florida to become an international star at in-line skating races, and then again heading to Utah to train for speed- skating, a sport he had never tried as a child in sunny Southern California. Those who know San Bernardino recognize that hard-working spirit, and our hometown celebrated with daylong events that included a spirited parade and packed awards dinner. While it is clear that Derek Parra meant to reach for his Olympic dream in any way he could, his time in Utah was made easier by The Home Depot, the national hardware chain that is known for its orange aprons. When he arrived in Salt Lake City, Parra landed a job in floors and walls at the West Valley Home Depot, which helped him provide for himself and his family during the year leading up to the Olympics. The Home Depot company is justly proud that it has contributed to Parra's success, as well as that of fellow employee Tristan Gale, who won a gold medal in the women's skeleton event. In fact, the company has hired and given job flexibility to 140 Olympics and Paralympics hopefuls throughout the country in a display of corporate patriotism and civic involvement. Twenty of those hopefuls were in Salt Lake City. The company's Olympic Job Opportunity Program offers full-time pay and benefits to athletes for a 20-hour week during competition and training seasons. Not surprisingly, Home Depot managers have found these dedicated athletes are also among their most hard-working employees and in most cases would be delighted to have them back after the competition has ended. Home Depot has joined many other U.S. companies in sponsorships that have helped show the world that it is possible to stage a successful Olympics without losses to public coffers or excessive commercialization. But The Home Depot has taken this civic spirit to the next level, supporting those dedicated athletes who are the centerpiece of the Olympic Games. Mr. Speaker, I would ask you and my colleagues to please join me in praising the American spirit of determination that led Derek Parra to shock the world and win gold and silver medals in record-breaking times at speedskating. And also in praising The Home Depot for showing the world that American business can join with athletes like Derek to bring success and pride to them both.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Ruben S. Ayala, whose 45 years in elective office in California made him one of the most respected and influential political voices from San Bernardino County. Mr. Ayala, who is celebrating his 80th birthday this month, is still serving the people of California as a member of the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Mr. Ayala began his career in politics in the same way that I and many of my colleagues became involved--as a member of the local board of education. He was elected to the Chino School Board in 1955, and he has been active in education issues throughout his career. In 1962, he was elected as a Chino City Councilman, and became the city's first elected mayor in 1964. He joined the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in 1966 and was chairman from 1968 to 1972. In 1974, he won a special election for State Senate, and served in that body until he retired in 1998. I was privileged to serve in the Legislature for four years with Ruben Ayala, and found him to be a forceful advocate for the state's school children and a proud proponent of San Bernardino County. After I came to Congress, I always knew State Sen. Ayala could be counted on to work hard for the benefit and improvement of our county. We have watched it grow and mature in many ways over the years, and Ruben Ayala deserves great credit for helping foster the county's economic expansion. The first Mexican-American to be elected to the State Senate in the 20th Century, Ruben Ayala was almost better known for his U.S. Marine Corps service and the Marine-like attitude he brought to the Legislature. When he became involved with an issue, he took action and was tenacious in pushing through legislation or demanding a response from state agencies. As chairman of the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, he was one of the most forceful voices on water policy in California--a topic that often defines the state's political and economic agenda. He was also a primary sponsor of the legislation creating the California Conservation Corps, a very successful program that helped many cities complete parks and public works projects. Mr. Speaker, the quality of Mr. Ayala's work, and the esteem that he has garnered, is evident from the fact that two parks, a street and a high school has been named in his honor. He was named Legislator of the Year in 1986 by the League of California Cities, and received many other awards for his work on behalf of schools, cancer victims and the local economy. I ask you and my colleagues to honor him as well with our congratulations on his 80th birthday, and our best wishes for his continuing work on behalf of Californians.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to express my gratitude and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of Dave LesStrang, who for the past 17 years has been a highly-valued member of my office, first as press secretary, and then as deputy chief of staff and legislative director. Dave LesStrang came to work for me in 1985, a newly-minted 21-year- old college graduate, filled with the zeal and fervor that can only come from participation in college political groups like the Young Americans for Freedom. We hired him as a press secretary, hoping he would grow into the job over time. It didn't take long for Dave to show the flair for organizing and completing big projects that has marked his career as a congressional staff member. One of my constituents, Hulda Crooks, completed her 21st climb of Mt. Whitney at the age of 89. When I congratulated her, I remarked that I would like to join her if she wanted to try again at 90. She said ``sure,'' and within a few days called to ask if I was getting ready for the hike. I asked Dave to take on the job of organizing the event. He spent long hours working out details and convincing major media of its importance--with the result that the Los Angeles Times carried my photo on its cover for one of the few times in my career in the House. Years later, Dave helped me convince the Interior Department to name a mountain near Mt. Whitney as Crooks' Peak in honor of that outstanding lady. Dave indeed grew into the job as press secretary. He is an excellent writer, and over the years has produced thousands of press releases, speeches, constituent letters and other important correspondence that often defines the character of a congressional office. Members of the media praised my office for providing clear and dependable information, a highly valued reputation that we gained in no small part because of Dave's efforts. He also came to intimately know the needs and character of the Inland Empire and High Desert areas of California, which I have represented for the past two decades. He has personally taken on the cause of an untold number of constituents, ensuring that federal agencies meet their responsibilities and provide top service. A typical example occurred just last year: One of my constituents asked for help in gaining recognition for her father, a pioneer engineer in space technology, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Dave not only got NASA's attention, he helped convince the agency to award the constituent's father the Distinguished Service medal, the highest to be given to civilians. Dave's willingness to go the extra mile and get spectacular results was also evident on a number of larger-scale projects. When I was named as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies, I was committed to finding ways for more people to reach the American dream of owning their own home. I decided that it would be a powerful symbolic gesture for members of Congress to help build some houses for low-income residents of our nation's capital. I asked Dave to take on the project, and it soon blossomed into one of the most high-profile charitable efforts ever attempted by House members. Working with Habitat for Humanity, and with the enthusiastic support of Speaker Newt Gingrich and Fannie Mae, Dave organized the Houses That Congress Built, a nationwide campaign that saw nearly all 435 house members personally help build homes in their districts. The effort provided a tremendous boost for the effort to provide affordable homes to low-income Americans. And true to his spirit of going above and beyond, Dave has personally volunteered for hundreds of hours on his own working on Habitat for Humanity houses. Most of the colleagues from California will remember Dave for the other major success he helped accomplish in recent years: The organizing of our delegation into an effective, cooperative force for the people of California. When I became chairman of the California Republican Congressional Delegation in 1995, there was little cooperation even among members of my conference, let alone across the aisle in our delegation. Members were divided by personalities, geography and partisanship, and the entire delegation had not come together on an issue since it had been grown beyond 50 members in 1980. Dave helped to reverse that historical trend. As the only staff member serving all California Republicans, he spent hundreds of hours meeting with staff from other California offices and personally walked miles in our congressional buildings winning signatures for delegation-wide letters. Within a year, we had the first letter signed by all 52 members--a feat that is now repeated regularly as our members have learned the value of working together on behalf of our state. Since he became my legislative director in 1999, Dave has helped me complete many major projects serving our district. Congress has agreed to the expansion of the Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, completing a decades-long effort in support of the world's finest training facility. The Seven Oaks Dam has been dedicated along the Santa Ana River, providing flood control protection for millions of people in Southern California. And the new national parks in our desert are becoming good neighbors for the constituents who live around them. I have always felt that members of my staff are like members of my family, and it has been a pleasure to watch Dave mature in his personal life even as he has become a consummate professional in his job. We were delighted when he met and married Elaine Dalpiaz nine years ago, and thrilled again when he and Elaine became parents to Matthew nearly two years ago. Mr. Speaker, after 17 years in my office providing these invaluable services to my constituents--and indeed to all Californians and Americans--Dave LesStrang is moving on to a new career working for the EMC Corporation, a cutting-edge firm providing data storage to help protect the records of private industry and government. Please join me in thanking him for his dedication and years of service, and in wishing him and Elaine well in all of their future efforts.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Furnace Creek Inn, which has provided an oasis of hospitality in the midst of one of the most inhospitable places in the world: Death Valley National Park. The inn, which among other amenities has the first golf course in the California desert, is marking its 75th year in February. The harsh beauty of Death Valley has been recognized since 1933 when it was designated a National Monument. Within its boundaries are America's lowest point--280 feet below sea level at Badwater--and mountains that rise more than 11,000 feet. While prospectors found gold and silver nearby, the real treasure of the area was borax, which is still mined in the Mojave Desert today for uses ranging from detergents to oven-to-table glass to termite protection for lumber. Many Americans are familiar with the 20-mule teams that hauled the precious mineral 165 miles to the nearest rail line for the Harmony Borax Works, built by W.T. Coleman in 1882. The works were moved in 1889 to Daggett, but borax mining was resumed in Death Valley in the 1920s by the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Noting the success of Palm Springs Desert Inn as a resort, Pacific Coast Borax decided to enter the tourism business, and the Furnace Creek Inn opened on February 1, 1927. Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin designed the mission-style structure set into the low ridge overlooking Furnace Creek Wash. Adobe bricks were hand made by Paiute and Shoshone laborers. A Spanish stonemason named Steve Esteves created the Moorish-influenced stonework, while meandering gardens and Deglet Noor palm trees were planted. The inn had 66 rooms by the time it was completed in 1935, along with a spring-fed swimming pool that has views of the surrounding mountains and valley. Tourism to Death Valley at the time surged in 1933 with the designation as a national monument. This meant that new, paved roads to and throughout the monument would be constructed, thus heralding automobile and tourist access to the site. In 1994 the area was designated a National Park, making it the largest park in the continental United States. Mr. Speaker, thousands of guests have experienced the stark grandeur of Death Valley in elegance at the Furnace Creek Inn. The current owner, Amfac Parks and Resorts, Inc., has completely refurbished the Inn and its amenities, preserving this unique hotel for future generations. Please join me in commending them and congratulating them on this historic occasion.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks) for a very brief colloquy. (Mr. DICKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Yes, it is.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Yes, very well said.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Absolutely.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Of course. Of course.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young). (Mr. YOUNG of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 324, I call up the conference report accompanying the bill (H.R. 3338) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, sections 901 and 903 of the division B of the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002, give the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives identical authority to acquire buildings and facilities in order to respond to emergencies. The phrase ``notwithstanding any other provision of law'' was included in these sections to clarify that provisions of law which would otherwise prohibit these individuals from acquiring buildings and facilities, such as section 3736 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 14), would not interfere with this authority. It was not the intent of the conferees or the Congress for this phrase to be construed more broadly to waive the application of other provisions of law which may apply to these kind of activities, such as the Anti-Deficiency Act. Indeed, subsection (d) of each of these sections permits any portion of the costs incurred by the Sergeant at Arms or Chief Administrative Officer in acquiring buildings and facilities under this authority during a fiscal year to be covered by funds which are appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol during the fiscal year and transferred to the Sergeant at Arms or Chief Administrative Officer. It would be unnecessary for Congress to permit this kind of transfer if the Sergeant at Arms and Chief Administrative Officer were permitted to carry out the underlying acquisitions without using appropriated funds, since that would eliminate the need for these costs to be covered with other appropriated funds in the first place.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, the gentleman is correct.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, would the gentleman read this very brief colloquy to me, and I will try to respond.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Absolutely.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would say to my colleagues and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), my friend, that the House has had a long night this past night. We have very, very extensive discussions that should take place regarding this bill, but we have heard this discussion before. So I am going to pass on those formal remarks, and I hope that my colleagues will read about them very carefully in the Record. But in the meantime, there are a couple of items of business that I must attend to. First, due to a clerical error, language was mistakenly omitted from the Statement of Managers that relates to the FMTV truck program, a very important program to some of the Members of the House. That language, agreed to by the conferees but inadvertently not included in the statement of managers, is as follows: ``The conferees understand that the Army did not request legislative authority to extend the current multi-year contract. The conferees direct the Army to act in the best interest of the Army with respect to the FMTV.'' Secondly, I would ask that on behalf of myself and Chairman Young, that I be allowed to insert in the Record at the end of my opening remarks a series of tables summarizing the conference agreements, on both the Defense and Supplemental appropriations bills. Finally, let me mention that our former colleague from the Committee on Appropriations, Larry Coughlin of Pennsylvania, who was a proud Marine by the way, Larry Coughlin was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery this morning. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.008 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.009 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH20DE01.010 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report accompanying H.R. 3338, and that I may include tabular and extraneous material.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Commander William Ebbs, who provided invaluable service to Congress on national security issues for two years as a congressional liaison in the Office of the Navy's Director of Budget, and who will soon be on the front lines of our nation's defense as commander of a submarine. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, CDR Ebbs enlisted in the Navy in May 1976. He completed boot camp at the Naval Training Center, San Diego and attended Nuclear Power Training at the Naval Training Center, Orlando, Florida. At the completion of his qualification as a nuclear propulsion plant operator, he was assigned to USS Von Steuben SSBN 632, a Lafayette class fleet ballistic missile submarine. After four strategic patrols on Von Steuben, he was detailed in 1979 as a member of the ship's refueling/overhaul crew. It was during this time that CDR Ebbs applied for and was accepted to participate in the Navy Enlisted Commissioning Program. Under this program, CDR Ebbs attended Auburn University and graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Commissioned an Ensign after attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, CDR Ebbs was designated a submarine officer and assigned to the USS Key West SSN 722, then the Navy's newest Los Angeles Class Fast Attack submarine. During this time, the Commander, Submarine Squadron Eight, recognized him as the ``1989 Junior Officer of the Year.'' After a tour in the Manpower division on the Staff of the Commander, Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet, he attended the Submarine Office Advanced Course and was assigned as the Chief Engineer on USS Atlanta SSN 712, a Los Angeles class submarine stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. Following a tour as the submarine special operations officer at the United States Atlantic Command, CDR Ebbs was assigned as Executive Officer of USS West Virginia SSGN 736, a Trident class Fleet Ballistic Missile submarine stationed in Kings Bay, Georgia. In the spring of 1999, CDR Ebbs was assigned to the Office of the Navy's Director of Budget as a Congressional Liaison. During his time as a Congressional Liaison, CDR Ebbs provided invaluable support to me, the Appropriations Committee, and the various Members and personal staff of the Subcommittee on Defense. He displayed a unique ability to explain complex military requirements in the context of an appropriations framework, serving this Committee well and reflecting great credit on the Department of the Navy. CDR Ebbs left the Office of the Navy's Director of Budget earlier this year for a new assignment. Mr. Speaker, I have the great honor to inform the Members of the Committee and the Congress that on January 11, 2002, CDR William Ebbs will take Command of the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Louisiana stationed in Kings Bay, Georgia. We thank him, his wife Patricia, and their boys Arthur and Parker, for their years of service and sacrifice. We wish William God's speed and protection.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to me. I had planned not to speak, but our full committee chairman was kind enough to mention that our defense bill was up tomorrow, and it is an item that has the largest funding of all the bills. It takes up over half of discretionary spending, because it is our national defense, after all. But he also mentioned that this bill is sometimes tough in terms of a balance of votes on the floor. I am rising today really to say that that absolutely should not be our circumstance, for the bill that our chairman is bringing us today, representing only some $15 billion of funding, is absolutely one of the most important reasons for us to have a Congress in the first place. National security, yes; but this bill reflects America's presence in the world during times of war, but also in times of peace, and uses $15 billion to make sure that the voice of freedom is heard around the world for America, the last remaining superpower; a small presence by way of this bill, able to reach out to countries attempting to make a new way for the lives of their people; the voice of freedom, the voice of independence and opportunity that is America's in the world; our chance to provide a kind of leadership that can impact the future of mankind. This bill is that important, $15 billion though it may be. I said to the Secretary of State when he came to us not so long ago that he was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It was such an irony that I was sitting there listening to him asking for $15 billion when the defense bill represents over $300 billion. The Members have done a great job, both the chairman and the ranking member, in bringing this bill forward. It is about time the American public understands that this is not just foreign aid, it is the voice for freedom in the world.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3338) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.